300 can have all kinds of meanings. It’s the number of articles we’ve just hit in this column, for example – a great cricket innings. Mathematically, it’s the sum of 2 prime numbers and also of 10 consecutive prime numbers. It’s also famously the number of Spartans who, against all odds, held back the masses of the invading Persian army for two days in the Battle of Thermopylae.
Millennials need a financial plan
When young people and young families reach out to me or other financial advisers, it’s typically centered around particular financial questions, goals, or issues they need help with at that point in time. Other times, it’s a combination of all these things, as their situation has become too complex to manage by themselves.
Ladies, don’t put your financial security at risk
Numerous studies suggest that women often defer to their spouses or partners when it comes to making long-term financial decisions, a choice that can put them at a distinct disadvantage in the event of divorce or death of a spouse and significantly interrupt a woman’s financial path.
Lightening the mental load
It’s no great secret that as we age our bodies begin to go into some form of decline, it can’t be disputed because the evidence is visible. Mental decline isn’t visible, no one knows what’s happening in anyone else’s head. This means it might be more open to dispute, delaying any response.
Optimism is the only realism
There’s a lot of fear about what happens next in financial markets and across the world economy. What should you do in response? Firstly, as always, our advice is to do nothing. We know you’ve heard us say this before, but in this instance, it’s even more important you don’t panic and don’t react.
We all need to know financial control
Clearly anyone can quickly pick up cooking, laundry or start the hedge trimmer if needed, but finances can be daunting and difficult if there’s no familiarity there. A lack of financial knowledge can be paralysing if a person is suddenly confronted with financial demands.
Where there's a Will, but no way
Is your will drawn up? Do you have a power of attorney? Aside from ensuring your investments are right for you, your financial adviser should have a healthy interest in ensuring a few other things in your life are addressed.
Living on the Edge
Digital innovation has democratised access to financial information to the point where anyone with a smartphone, a few apps and real-time news and data feeds can be like a pro trader. But who wants to do that? And do you need to?
Putting 'family' into financial planning
A couple that decides to form a long-term relationship does more than create a legal and spiritual bond. At the same time, the personal and financial goals probably shift and become more complex.
Financial planning should be the natural friend of good insurance coverage
I had a friend who said that the trick to sailing in all conditions around the world was to know that sometime your boat would sink. He felt that keeping that fact at the forefront of his mind kept him prepared.
In Money Week, let's talk about financial resilience
"Resilience" tends to be defined as flourishing despite adversity or bouncing back quickly from difficult situations. Financial resilience is often considered as simply ensuring an emergency cash fund is available to cover against unforeseen expenses.
Financial plan is like a voyage - so have navigator onboard
Embarking on a financial plan is like sailing around the world. The voyage won't always go to plan and there will be rough seas, but those who are prepared, flexible, patient and well advised greatly increase the odds of reaching their destinations.
The future of data in financial advice
The ongoing revelations about how Cambridge Analytica exploited Facebook to harvest millions of profiles have laid bare the seeming lack of control we have over our own data.
Seven ways to tighten your Christmas spending
Last year, New Zealanders managed to spend a record $6 billion shopping in December, which was the highest monthly figure recorded by Statistics New Zealand.
Hawke's Bay enjoyed the highest holiday splurge, with a near 11 per cent increase on the previous year.
